DNA in human and stallion spermatozoa forms local hexagonal packing with twist and many defects.

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_CAB65254914D
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
DNA in human and stallion spermatozoa forms local hexagonal packing with twist and many defects.
Journal
Journal of Structural Biology
Author(s)
Sartori Blanc N., Senn A., Leforestier A., Livolant F., Dubochet J.
ISSN
1047-8477
Publication state
Published
Issued date
04/2001
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
134
Number
1
Pages
76-81
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't - Publication Status: ppublish
Abstract
In human and other mammal sperm nuclei, DNA is packed in a highly condensed state, the structure of which remains unsolved. Cryoelectron microscopy of vitrified sections provides a first direct view of the local arrangement of the nucleoprotamine filament. DNA aligns in parallel in layers and its orientation rotates along a single-twist direction as in a cholesteric liquid crystal. The structure contains numerous defects, which introduce locally double-twist configurations. Destruction of the SS bonds with dithiotrehitol relaxes the twist and favors the extension of the hexagonal close packing of the filaments, though keeping constant their interfilament distance.
Keywords
Animals, Chromatin/chemistry, Cryoelectron Microscopy, Crystallization, DNA/chemistry, DNA-Binding Proteins/chemistry, DNA-Binding Proteins/drug effects, Dithiothreitol/pharmacology, Horses/physiology, Humans, Male, Models, Molecular, Molecular Conformation, Spermatozoa/chemistry
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
24/01/2008 11:25
Last modification date
20/08/2019 16:45
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